Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, has thrown his weight behind the planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1.
While speaking with newsmen
after a courtesy visit to Abia state governor, Alex Otti, on Sunday, July 28,
Obi said the Nigerian Constitution allows room for protests as it is the right
of citizens.
He, however, warned against
violence, saying such demonstrations should be done within the confines of the
law.
Obi identified hunger, and
hopelessness among the youths as the sponsors of the protest, calling on the
Nigerian authorities to engage and give a listing listening ear to the
protesters.
“In Nigerian Constitution,
protest is allowed. All I plea for those who are protesting is to do so within
the law and in a civil manner that allows us as a nation to show that we live
within the law. Everybody knows that things are difficult.
I always say when they talk
about the sponsors of the protest, I say the sponsors are very simple. Hunger,
hopelessness amongst the youths so we all have to listen to what Nigerians are
going through''
Acknowledging that things are
difficult in the country, he said: “We all have to listen to what Nigerians are
going through and I thank our governor (Alex Otti) for doing so. It is important.”
The LP chief argued that people
do protest in his house, but did not identify who the people are to specify the
manner of protest. He called on security agencies to provide cover for the
protesters, urging them to operate within the ambit of the law.
“What I will say to security
agencies is that they manage the situation again within the law. We should not
strive to be overbearing. There is nothing wrong (with protesting). Protest is
allowed everywhere globally. I also say (that) people protest in my house. It
is for us to listen to those who are protesting. Why are they protesting?
Engage them, that is what governance is all about. You talk with them, there is
nothing wrong in that,” he added.
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